Paola Sartori was a researcher in the Security and Defence programmes at IAI, where she collaborated on research projects dealing with security and defence issues at the national and European levels. She holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from the University of Trieste (Gorizia campus). During her academic career, she was an exchange student at the Südasien-Institut (Heidelberg University) and interned at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Division for Afghanistan and Regional Dimension) and at the IAI Security and Defence programme. Prior to joining IAI she worked as Junior Fellow (Military Affairs Desk) at the Centro Studi Internazionali (Ce.S.I.).